My Fibromyalgia Journey

2010-04-12T08:33:00.002-04:00

"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about."
-Charles Kingsley

2010-04-10T09:01:00.002-04:00

It's really the cat's house - we just pay the mortgage.
~Author Unknown

2010-04-09T18:52:00.002-04:00

'May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

2010-04-08T07:06:00.002-04:00

"To think creatively, I need to be able to look afresh at what I normally take for granted."
~George Kneller

2010-04-07T09:15:00.002-04:00

photo taken by Hal Emery

Light

"I am a child of the Light.
I love the Light.
I serve the Light.
I live in the Light.
I am protected, illumined, supplied and sustained by the Light
and I love the Light"
~Saint Germain

Today's Affirmation

The Light of God is always with me.
Today's Meditation
Dear God, Mother, Father, Spirit of the Universe

Thank You for the light of Your love which illumines my steps.
Thank You for the love we share freely with one another.
Thank You for providing all that I need to live.
Thank You for this incredible planet to call home.
Thank You for the wind and rain, fire and earth.
Thank You for early spring flowers.
Thank You for the Light which always shines.
Thank You!

2010-04-06T10:24:00.001-04:00

A Miracle

When a miracle turns its face toward the Realm of Plants
Life flowers from the tree of its great good fortune.
And when a plant tastes grace and turns to the Spirit
It drinks it fill from the Fountain of Spring.
And when the spirit turns at last toward its Beloved
It unrolls its bed in Eternal Delight.

- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

2010-04-05T06:56:00.002-04:00

photo from an email-unknown photographer

Guidance requires action, but it does not guarantee safety. While I measure my success in terms of my personal comfort and security the universe measures my success by how much I have learned. So long as I use comfort and security as my criteria of success, I will fear my own intuitive guidance because by its very nature it directs me into new cycles of learning that are sometimes uncomfortable.
~Caroline Myss

2010-04-04T10:10:00.001-04:00

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

2010-04-03T11:23:00.001-04:00

Earth laughs in flowers.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"

2010-04-02T08:40:00.001-04:00

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. ~William Shakespeare

2010-03-31T09:16:00.002-04:00

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart away from nature becomes hard; he knew the lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to a lack of respect for humans too. So he kept his youth close to its softening influence."
--Luther Standing Bear, OGLALA SIOUX

When we live in nature it's like constantly being in school. We are in an environment that is always teaching. We are constantly being reminded hat there are laws, Natural Laws, which are running the universe. Once we know these laws and we drift from them, we start to live our lives in a different way. Soon we become discontent, selfish, and disrespectful. Then, we get in trouble. If our lives have become this way, it can be reversed by going back to nature to be among our teachers.

Great Spirit, teach men, again, the Natural Laws.

2010-03-30T09:47:00.002-04:00

~ photo from www.lanyasnyder.com/BlankCanvas.jpg

I need to offer myself to God like a clean, smooth canvas and not worry myself about what God may choose to paint on it, but at each moment, feel only the stroke of His brush." ~Jean Pierre de Caussade

2010-03-29T10:13:00.002-04:00

this is a photo of my Grandpa Bill when he was a youngster, he is the one on the right

The Daily OM

The Boundaries Of Experience
Expanding Your Comfort Zone

Leaving your comfort zone of current patterns and behaviors is a courageous step toward self-growth.

None of us are born with a guidebook that provides explicit rules for thought and behavior that will enable us to navigate life successfully. To cope with the myriad of complexities to which all of humanity is subject, we each develop a set of habits and routines that ground us, their continuity assuring us that life is progressing normally. Most of us know, whether instinctively or by experience, that transformations can be uncomfortable, but we always learn and gain so much. Any initial discomfort we experience when expanding our comfort zones diminishes gradually as we both become accustomed to change and begin to understand that temporary discomfort is a small price to pay for the evolution of our soul.

Your current comfort zone did, at one time, serve a purpose in your life. But it is representative of behaviors and patterns of thought that empowered you to cope with challenges of days past. Now, this comfort zone does little to facilitate the growth you wish to achieve in the present. Leaving your comfort zone behind through personal expansion of any kind can prepare you to take the larger leaps of faith that will, in time, help you refine your purpose. Work your way outward at your own pace, and try not to let your discomfort interfere with your resolve. With the passage of each well-earned triumph, you will have grown and your comfort zone will have expanded to accommodate this evolution.

Whether your comfort zone is living with your parents, or perhaps being too shy to socialize, or maybe it’s not realizing your spirit self—whatever it is, start small, and you will discover that venturing beyond the limited comfort zone you now cling to is not as stressful an experience as you imagined it might be. And the joy you feel upon challenging yourself in this way will nearly always outweigh your discomfort. As you continue to expand your comfort zone to include new ideas, activities, goals, and experiences, you will see that you are capable of stimulating change and coping with the fresh challenges that accompany it.

2010-03-28T10:09:00.001-04:00

~ photo from an email

Spring

Somewhere
a black bear
has just risen from sleep
and is staring

down the mountain.
All night
in the brisk and shallow restlessness
of early spring

I think of her,
her four black fists
flicking the gravel,
her tongue

like a red fire
touching the grass,
the cold water.
There is only one question:

how to love this world.
I think of her
rising
like a black and leafy ledge

to sharpen her claws against
the silence
of the trees.
Whatever else

my life is
with its poems
and its music
and its cities,

it is also this dazzling darkness
coming
down the mountain,
breathing and tasting;

all day I think of her –
her white teeth,
her wordlessness,
her perfect love.

~ Mary Oliver ~

2010-03-27T09:50:00.001-04:00

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

2010-03-25T10:03:00.003-04:00

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us."

-Nelson Mandela

2010-03-24T09:33:00.005-04:00

~photographer unknown by me

Love is Action

"It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble, how hopeless the outlook, how muddled the tangle, how great the mistake. A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all."
~Emmet Fox

2010-03-23T08:12:00.003-04:00

~photo from an email I got a while ago

We could learn alot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
~author unknown

2010-03-22T09:14:00.001-04:00

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Everything's so simple, and we make everything so complicated. That's why we're confused."

~ Vickie Downey, TEWA/Tesuque Pueblo

The Creator designed a very simple set of Laws for us to follow. If we follow these simple things, we'll be happy. If we don't follow these simple things, our lives become complicated. For example:

Respect Mother Earth
Love one another
Be truthful
Give to your brother and sisters
Be gentle with each other
Be happy
Following these simple Laws will have great rewards.

Great Spirit, let me lead a simple life.

2010-03-21T08:41:00.001-04:00

~photographer unknown to me

Some days are simply meant for playing!
~ Mary Anne Radmacher

2010-03-20T09:10:00.001-04:00

Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying… "I will try again tomorrow."
– Mary Anne Radmacher

2010-03-19T07:39:00.002-04:00

From Chet Day...

The Five Finger Deep Relaxation Method
This is one of my favorite techniques for dealing with stress.

I promise after you try it that it's going to be one of yours, too!

Here we go. Try it right now...

Close your eyes, take several deep breaths, and relax.

Now, touch your thumb to your index finger. As you do, think of a time when you felt an exhilarated, healthy physical or mental fatigue such as from jogging or skiing or from successfully completing an important project.

Next, touch your thumb to your middle finger. As you do, think of a time when you had a loving experience.

Now, touch your thumb to your ring finger. As you do, think about one of your successes in life or valued praise that you received.

Finally, touch your thumb to your little finger. As you do, visualize the most beautiful and relaxing place that you have ever been (or make up such a place if you want). Allow yourself to stay in that place for awhile.
If this exercise doesn't significantly relax you, then you've probably stopped breathing and gone to heaven!

http://chetday.com/go/Bliss

Something that helps me stay well is not getting stressed out! Ha! you are probably thinking. The above exercise may be helpful. I also meditate each day.

2010-03-18T08:52:00.001-04:00

"Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust - we all dance to a mysterious
tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper."
~Albert Einstein

2010-03-17T10:00:00.003-04:00

~ photographer unknown to me

Light without and light within.
And in all my comings and goings,
May I ever have a kindly greeting
From them I meet along the road.
May the raindrops fall lightly on my brow.
May the soft winds freshen my spirit.
May the sunshine brighten my heart
May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon me.
And may God enfold me in the mantle of His love.
~An Irish Gift

2010-03-16T09:27:00.003-04:00

~ laughing Buddha photographer unknown to me

Wild Hilarious Miracle

So often I put up my hands
To shield my eyes from you
Wild hilarious miracle!
Your Light shines through my bones.

- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

2010-03-15T07:33:00.001-04:00

Today's Daily OM

Finding Your Joy

Be Happy Every Single Day

Being happy doesn’t come naturally to everybody. It is your birthright to be happy, choose happiness everyday.

Our lives are rich with potential sources of happiness, but sometimes we become victims of negative thinking because we believe that focusing on all that has gone wrong will provide us with the motivation we need to face the challenges of survival. When we choose to focus on what makes us happy, however, a shift occurs in the fabric of our existence. Finding something to be happy about every single day can help this shift take place. The vantage points from which we view the world are brought into balance, and we can see that being alive truly is a gift to be savored. There is always something we can be happy about—it is simply up to us to identify it.

On one day, we may find happiness in a momentous, life-changing event such as a marriage or the birth of a child. On another day, the happiness we experience may be a product of our appreciation of a particularly well-brewed cup of a tea or the way the sun shines on a leaf. If we discover that we literally cannot call to mind a single joyful element of existence, we should examine the cause of the blockage standing between us and experiencing happiness. Keeping a happiness journal is a wonderful way to catalog the happiness unfolding all around us so that joy has myriad opportunities to manifest itself in our lives. Writing about the emotions we experience while contemplating joy may give us insight into the factors compelling us to resist it.

Happiness may not always come easily into your life. You have likely been conditioned to believe that the proper response to unmet expectations is one of sadness, anger, guilt, or fear. To make joy a fixture in your existence, you must first accept that it is within your power to choose happiness over unhappiness every single day. Then, each time you discover some new source of happiness, the notion that the world is a happy place will find its way more deeply into your heart. On this day, find one thing to be happy about and let it fill your heart.

2010-03-14T08:02:00.002-04:00

this is a photo of a drum that shows a medicine wheel. The drum maker calls it Medicine Wheels Healing Hand, here is their site: www.livingdrums.com

The concept that we are all related is one of the basic philosophies of D/Lakota religion."
~Dr. A.C. Ross (Ehanamani), LAKOTA

The Medicine Wheel teaches the four directions of the races, Red people, Yellow people, Black people and White people. These four directions are symbolic of all races. Everything in the circle is connected and related. All races are brothers and sisters. If we are related to each other, then it is important to love one another as brother and sister, aunt and uncle, Fathers and Mothers, Grandfathers and Grandmothers. We need to care for each other and especially respect each other. We need to honor one another's differences whether that difference is the color of our skin or our opinions. We should respect differences.

My Creator, let me feel the connectedness to all things. Let me know the lessons I need to learn today. Above all, let me feel my connectedness to You.

2010-03-12T09:28:00.003-05:00

Life's truest happiness is found in friendships we make along the way
~author unkown

2010-03-10T09:15:00.001-05:00

The Daily OM

Anything Can Be Overcome

Hope in Hardship

There is nothing in our life that cannot be overcome with time, love, friendship and attention to the matter.

The journey that each human being makes through earthly existence can have hardship as often as it is touched by joy. When we encounter adversity, the stress we feel can erode our optimism, eventually convincing us that the issues we face cannot be overcome. In truth, there is no situation so dire, no challenge so great, and no choice so bewildering that it cannot be overcome. Though we may believe that all avenues have been closed to us or that our most conscientious efforts will come to naught, we are never without feasible options. The best course of action may be veiled in doubt, but it is there. When we are honest with ourselves with regard to this simple fact, we can overcome anything because we will never stop looking for a solution to the challenges before us.

Self-trust coupled with a sturdy plan is the ultimate antidote to adversity’s tendency to inspire disillusionment in the human mind. As difficult as the obstacle plaguing you seems, it is no match for the love of a supportive universe that has been a part of your life since the day of your birth and will be with you forevermore. Try not to be misguided by your fear as this gives rise to the notion that there are problems without solutions. If you believe in your capabilities and dedicate yourself to the creation of some form of resolution, you will be surprised to discover that paths that were once closed to you miraculously open. Even if all you can do is change your perspective to turn an impediment into an opportunity to grow, you will have found the hope that is an inherent element of all hardship.

Remember that your destiny is a product of your own creation. Even when it seems you have nowhere left to turn, there is a solution waiting for you. The only insurmountable obstacles are the ones you create in your own mind—and these can only exert power over you if you let them. Uncertainty will always be a part of your existence, but perseverance and mindfulness will never fail to see you through to the other side of hardship where joy can thrive. Try and remember that no matter what life places at your feet, there is absolutely no situation that cannot be resolved with time, love, and friendship.

2010-03-09T07:33:00.002-05:00

photo by Clark Little

Each Being

Each being is your gold, walking
Love the eyes that see the gold.
Last night I touched your beauty
Woke, an alchemist.

- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

2010-03-08T09:39:00.002-05:00

Path of Love

"And how I ask am I to walk the spiritual path? I answer: Say little; love much; give all; judge no-one; aspire to all that is love and good-
and keep on keeping on."
~White Eagle

2010-03-07T11:06:00.002-05:00

photo of moose in Michigan from an email

We may give without loving, but we cannot love without giving.
~ Bernard Meltzer

2010-03-06T10:11:00.001-05:00

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"And there are Four Corners of the Earth that we talk about, the Four Colors of people, and the Four Winds. You see the winds - they are spirits."
--Grandfather William Commanda, ALGONQUIN

The Elders teach us about the four directions. If we learn about direction, we also learn about attention, about focus, and about power. Each direction has spiritual power. In the morning, go outside, face the east and get still; then, listen to your thoughts. After you have done this for a while, turn and face the west. Get quiet once again and listen to your thoughts. Did your thinking change when you changed direction?

Great Spirit, teach me the power of the four directions.

2010-03-05T22:56:00.001-05:00

I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.
~Ruth Stout

2010-03-04T10:54:00.001-05:00

photo from an email that shows amazing lenticular clouds over Mt. Rainier in Washington state

In the sky
an infinitude of hope,
a canvas of glory
all possibilities mine.
~Neroli Lambent

2010-03-03T07:39:00.001-05:00

People who love cats have some of the biggest hearts around. ~Susan Easterly

2010-03-02T07:46:00.002-05:00

The Present

"The present moment is as it is. Always. Can I let it be?"
~Eckhart Tolle

Today's Affirmation

I now relax into the peace of God.

Today's Meditation

Holy One, Source, Spirit, Mother, Father,
Right now, in this very moment, I am loved and peaceful.
I have everything I need to be happy, now.
I feel Your powerful presence and gentle joy.
I am immersed in a golden wave of liquid love.
I realize a deep sense of oneness with all creation and I love each person.
There are no separations or distinctions in You, only deep connection.
Thank You for the life we share in You.

2010-03-01T10:35:00.003-05:00

photo from http://plaidnet.greenwichacademy.org

May today there be peace within.
May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content with yourself just the way you are.
Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
~author unknown

The above photo is in honor of an amazing Reiki retreat I attended this weekend. I had my first sweat lodge, was attuned in the coil of the serpent and many of it's coils, which represent our chakras. What beautiful people I had the honor of being with, including my dad! Right now I am so filled up with energy and love. Life is spectacular!!!
Sending you all some of this healing energy and love....

2010-02-26T09:28:00.002-05:00

photographer unknown to me

New Thoughts
"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in my mind. To make a deep physical path, I walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, I need to think over and over the kind of thoughts I wish to dominate my life."
~Henry David Thoreau

Today's Affirmation
I cultivate thoughts of peace, joy, harmony, happiness and love.

2010-02-25T09:15:00.002-05:00

photo from http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb

"The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something."
~Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch was 47 years old when he died from pancreatic cancer. He was, as the Independent of London put it, "the dying man who taught America how to live." His book, The Last Lecture, is an international best-seller and it offers many wonderful lessons about life.

Randy Pausch's "last lecture" was delivered in September 2007, at Carnegie Mellon University, where he taught computer science. The lecture began with him standing before a screen beaming down chilling CT images of tumors in his liver, under the title...The Elephant in the Room. He then said to a stunned audience, "I have about 6 months to live." He said, "I'm really in good shape, probably better shape than most of you," ... dropping to the floor to do push-ups.

He went on to say, "I'm dying and I'm having fun, and I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left." He talked about his childhood dreams and what they had taught him about life. He said, "If you live your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself...your dreams will come to you."

Randy Pausch really was a dying man who has taught America how to live.

He died on July 25, 2008, but his wisdom, his passion, and his attitude are lasting sources of inspiration for all of us.

This story came in my Simple Truths email today and it is a good reminder of why we have the brick walls, stumbling blocks or hardships in our lives. If you haven't seen Randy's last lecture here is a link to it. It is truly inspiring. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo. Expect to shed a few tears too.
Sending you all hope, love and a belief that miracles can happen...

2010-02-24T08:43:00.002-05:00

photographer unknown to me

"Walk in peace. Be undisturbed and unperturbed: all is in God's plan.
Never doubt this. Bring God into my life, and I will see miracles."
~White Eagle

2010-02-23T09:40:00.001-05:00

Thoughts

"Whether I think I can or think Ican't - I am right."
~Henry Ford

Today's Affirmation
My thoughts are gentle, powerful and creative.

Today's Meditation

Dear God, Mother, Father, Spirit,
Thoughts of
sweetness
incredible joy
warm days
completion
friendship
passion
openness
acceptance
purpose
intention
Your presence
and love
fill my mind and shape my world.

Thank You.

2010-02-22T08:24:00.003-05:00

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away ~author unknown

No matter how many sunsets I see, they still take my breath away. The photo in this post is taken on Lake Erie. I chose it because it reminds me of the sunsets we see on our family reunions at Lake Erie. We have the priviledge of staying right on the Lake Erie, in Westfield NY. Going to see the nightly sunset is top on all of our lists our list each night. Well the adult members of our family at least.
Have a wonderful week!!

2010-02-21T09:58:00.001-05:00

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Every thing or living being that exists in this world, be it trees, flowers, birds, grasses, rocks, soil of the earth, or human beings, has its unique manner of existence - its essence, its spirit that makes it what it is. That is what is meant by connectedness."
~ Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA

Scientists are finally realizing what the Elders have taught for thousands of years - everything is connected. Because everything is interconnected, whatever you do to any one thing, you do to everything. If you poison any part of the earth, the poison eventually affects everything else. If you poison the plants, the birds will eat the plants, which poisons the birds. The birds are eaten by humans which poisons the humans. The humans will have babies who could be deformed because the plants were poisoned. We must learn to live in harmony with the earth. We must learn to think good things. Every good thought is felt by everything, which causes everything to be happy.

Creator, let my thoughts only be good thoughts

2010-02-20T08:38:00.007-05:00

Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest.
~Henry Van Dyke

I wanted to choose a quote about coming home to honor our newest member of our furry family. Since Tuesday we had a most adorable black and white Tuxedo stray cat trying to move in through our red back door. Wednesday night we resisted, but Thursday day we couldn't resist any longer. He just acted like he knew this was his home. So we moved him into a large wire dog kennel with all the amenities, until Friday's vet check. He ate and ate and then curled up in a ball and slept abd slept. Finally he had a full belly and was safe and warm. My husband named him Who. The rest of our menagerie has welcomed him, some with more opened arms than others, but there is a sense of peasce and that we did the right thing. Who has found his forever home and his heart can rest now.

2010-02-19T07:23:00.002-05:00

http://cbertel.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/bee-honeycomb.jpg

Kind words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body ~author unknown

and this Rumi...

Honeycomb
My best days are when I melt
Love streams from me
Warm, timeless, honey
From your invisible comb

- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

2010-02-18T10:22:00.002-05:00

photo from an email

“The day is done, and the darkness, Falls from the wings of Night, As a feather is wafted downward, From an eagle in his flight”
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

2010-02-17T09:54:00.004-05:00

http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/WOLVES-wolves-592571_1024_768.jpg

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"No individual or group can block another individual's path or change it against what fits his nature and his purpose. It might be done for a time, but in the end it won't work out."

--Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE

Every person is born for a purpose. We may know our purpose very early in our lives, or it may take us some time. Very often we need to experience many things before our purpose is clear to us. Sometimes we pick our goals to please others. Sometimes others pick our goals to make themselves happy. Often this makes us unhappy. We need to pray to the Creator and ask Him what our purpose is. When we live outside our purpose, our path is full of obstacles. When we live inside our purpose, our path is smooth. When we are aligned to our purpose, we are happy and content.

Great Spirit, whisper to me, in terms I can understand, what You would have me do and I will do it.

2010-02-16T09:13:00.002-05:00

photo from The Daily OM

Surrender
“Surrender is the key that unlocks the door to my journey”
~Cheryl Richardson

Today's Affirmation
I surrender to the power of God moving in my life.

Today's Meditation
Dear God, Mother, Father, Spirit,
You are always at work in my life.
Your guiding spirit nudges me toward the high road.
When I find myself struggling with a problem, I stop myself.
I release any challenging situations to You, and I listen for a divine answer.
I surrender to the answers that You supply, and I move forward in love.
Thank You,

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-14T09:55:00.001-05:00

photographer unknown by me

Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction.
~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939

2010-02-13T11:24:00.005-05:00

photo by Shasta Charles taken off her back deck in Newville PA

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"I wanted to feel, smell, hear and see, but not see with my eyes and my mind only. I wanted to see with CANTE ISTA - the eye of the heart."
--Lame Deer, LAKOTA

Why is it that some people seem to have peace of mind every day? How do some people remain so darn positive? How do you stay positive if you work or live in a negative environment? How is it that two people can observe the same difficult situation, but one person is upset about it, and other isn't? Two people experiencing the same situation react entirely different. If each morning we ask the Creator to allow us to see with His understanding and with His love, we will open a new way of "seeing". This eye of the heart is a free gift given to us if we ask for it in prayer each day.

Grandfather, allow me to see the world and all things You have made through "the eye of my heart."

2010-02-12T08:15:00.001-05:00

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"The spirit still has something for us to discover - an herb, a sprig, a flower - a very small flower, maybe you can spend a long time in its contemplation, thinking about it."
--Lame Deer, LAKOTA

The world today is about hurry up! Get there faster! Work harder, produce more, hurry up, eat quickly, be on time, don't get stressed- headaches, conflict, drink to calm down, go to training on stress management, time management - STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! Go spend 5 minutes with a flower or a plant. Look at it - think about it - look at its beauty, smell it, close your eyes and smell it again. Touch it; touch with your eyes closed. Listen to it; listen to it with your eyed closed. Slow your mind down. Think about the little things. Now close your eyes and pray.

Great Spirit, this feeling of calmness that I have, let me have it all day long.

2010-02-10T09:21:00.001-05:00

Sweet Silence
"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. We go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?"
~J. B. Priestley

Today's Affirmation
I take advantage of every opportunity to experience the peace of God.

Today's Meditation

Holy Spirit, Mother, Father, God,
Thank You for this snowy day and the opportunities for peace that it contains.
Our world is wrapped in a thick blanket of quiet.
For a while, we abandon our schedules and take the time to be still.
We open ourselves to the wonder and magic of this moment.
Thank You for speaking to us through the silence and beauty of falling snow.

2010-02-09T06:32:00.002-05:00

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"It can be 100 degrees in the shade one afternoon and suddenly there comes a storm with hailstones as big as golf balls, the prairie is all white and your teeth chatter. That's good - a reminder that you are just a small particle of nature, not so powerful as you think."
--Lame Deer, LAKOTA

No event, no relationship, no joy, no sadness, no situation ever stays the same. Every setback is only temporary. Even setbacks change. Why? Because the Great Spirit designed the world to be constantly changing. We are not the center of the universe, we are but a small part. The whole is constantly changing, and we as humans are constantly participating in the change. We have two choices, to resist change or participate in the change. Every change can be resisted, and every change can be made in cooperation. What will I choose today, resistance or cooperation?

Great Spirit, teach me to make cooperative changes.

2010-02-08T08:30:00.001-05:00

Aware

"There are no little events in life, those I think of no consequence may be full of fate,
and it is at my own risk if I neglect the acquaintances and opportunities that seem to be casually offered, and of small importance."
~Amelia E. Barr

Today's Affirmation
My mind and heart are open and receptive.

Today's Meditation

Dear God, Mother, Father, Spirit,
It is easy to see how or where I missed an opportunity.
A job that was offered and declined or a casual remark that was not recognized for the possibility it contained.
Perhaps I overlooked a detail or failed to follow up on something I thought was insignificant that turned out to be pivotal.
Often, I held so tightly to my image of how things "should" be that I missed the wonder that was in front of me.
If I focus at what I think might have been; I sacrifice here and now.
So, I release the past and whatever thoughts I hold of missing anything.
I am in the perfect place at the absolutely perfect time for me.
I have learned to learn.
I have learned to be open and receptive.
I have learned to be watchful; knowing that the flow of divine ideas never stops.
I have come to believe that You are not finished with me yet.
I feel Your presence pouring into and through me as I open myself completely and surrender.
In the sweet communion of silence, I spread my heart and mind like a canvas and wait to see what picture emerges from Your brush strokes.
I am aware of the masterpiece that You are creating in me now.

Thank You

2010-02-07T09:44:00.002-05:00

Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds
Whose breath gives life to the world, hear me I come to you
As one of your many children
I am small and weak, I need your strength and wisdom
May I walk in beauty
Make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset
Make my hands respect the things you have made And my ears... sharp to your voice
Make me wise so that I may know the things you have taught your children
The lessons you have written in every leaf and rock make me strong!
Not to be superior to my brothers, but to fight my greatest enemy,myself!

*** A Sioux Prayer Translated by Chief Yellow Lark– 1887

2010-02-06T13:55:00.002-05:00

Three Mourning Doves in a Mulberry Tree, pretty close to a partridge in a pear tree.

"Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly."
-St. Francis de Sales

2010-02-05T11:00:00.001-05:00

“Faith does not rely on knowing anything with certainty.
It requires only the courage to accept that whatever happens is for the highest good.”
by Dan Millman

2010-02-04T09:06:00.001-05:00

photographer unknown by me

Be Glad

Drunk on the milky light of the stars
Anyone staggers. If I seem mad
I am. And if you see that
You are too. Be glad.
~Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

2010-02-03T09:12:00.002-05:00

My Unconquerable Soul

“In the depths of winter, I discovered within me, an invincible summer.”
~Albert Camus

Today's Affirmation
I am a child of Light.

Today's Meditation
Dear God, Mother, Father, Spirit of the Universe,
Your presence within is greater than I had previously dared to imagine.
I relax into this knowing and I am filled with peace.
No matter how things appear in the outer world, I shall not be moved.
In You I am safe and whole.
You are the Life that fills me with joy and feeds my soul.
You are the Light that shines away all darkness.
May my life be witness to Your love.

Thank you

2010-02-02T09:58:00.002-05:00

photographer unknown to me

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood and so it is everything where power moves."
--Black Elk (Hehaka sapa), OGLALA SIOUX

In these modern times it is difficult to understand why we should think circles and seasons. People and society are always moving, through distance, over yonder, going here and going there - hurry up, grow up, be successful, climb the ladder of success, etc. The Elders tell us to slow down, to be patient, pray and think circles. Circle thinking applies to relationships, business and every area of our lives. We need to teach our awareness to look for seasons and cycles.

My Creator, teach me the seasons of growth.

2010-02-01T10:22:00.002-05:00

photo from the Daily OM

Wisdom is, finding the balance between head and heart, upper chakras and lower chakras, earth and sky, masculine and feminine, joy and sorrow, yin and yang, energy and rest, human and divine, cosmos and psyche."
~Matthew Fox

I am back from a wonderful trip to Pennsylvania to reconnect with my long lost childhood friend, Julie. A few of the miracles that occurred were, I rode a horse for an hour trail ride in 19 degree temps for an hour and I felt only a little bit sore afterwards, I drove 7.5 hours each way and I wasn't even very stiff when I got out of the car, I slept in a strange bed fine(slept being the key word here) and best of all my friend and I picked up like we had never grown apart. Life is good!!!

2010-01-27T07:34:00.002-05:00

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.”
~Buddha

My husband, 3 dogs and I are off on a grand adventure to visit a long lost childhood friend. It is a 7 hour drive to get there, which would have seemed impossible to me when my Fibro was so bad. She owns a horse farm and really is encouraging me to RIDE! I haven't ridden in 14 years! But I am going to give it a whirl. I feel that good! It is exciting to be reuniting with someone who shared so much of my past. We were thicker than thieves from 5th grade until I moved away my senior year in high school. We lived on horseback back then. Woo hoo Julie here we come!

2010-01-26T09:35:00.005-05:00

photo is from www.joe-ks.com/archives_feb2008/CircleOfLife.jpg

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"All life is a circle."
--Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE

The atom is a circle, orbits are circles, the earth, moon, and sun are circles. The seasons are circles. The cycle of life is a circle: baby, youth, adult, elder. The sun gives life to the earth who feeds life to the trees whose seeds fall to the earth to grow new trees. We need to practice seeing the cycles that the Great Spirit gave us because this will help us more in our understanding of how things operate. We need to respect these cycles and live in harmony with them.

Great Spirit, let me grow in knowledge of the circle.

2010-01-25T12:20:00.001-05:00

photo by Ron Birrell

Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.
~Standing Bear

2010-01-24T10:08:00.002-05:00

~ photographer unknow to me

Sunday, January 24, 2010 – Divine Energy

Feel the energy of my inner body. Immediately mental noise slows down or ceases. Feel it in my hands, my feet, my abdomen, my chest.
Feel the life that I am, the life that animates the body"
~Eckhart Tolle

Today's Affirmation
I am filled and fueled by Spirit, which is my source.

Today's Meditation

Mother/Father God,

In this moment;
I let go of my busyness,
I let go of the past and the future,
I let go of my thoughts and feelings.
I am aware of the energy that moves silently through my body.
I allow my awareness of Your constant presence to expand, encompassing everything around me.
I am aware of the subtle rhythm of All that is and All that is yet to be.
I am aware of the continuous flow of life, expressing Itself though and as me, connecting everything and everyone. continuously expressing and ever changeless.
I have a body but I am not my body.
I have feelings but I am not my feelings.
I have thoughts but I am not my thoughts.
I have work to do, but I am not my work.
I have emotions but I am not my emotions.
I have dreams but I am not my dreams.
I am an individualized expression of the divine energy pattern of life.
I am more than the sum of my knowing.
I am more than I ever imagined.
I am that which You are.
You are that which I am.
I am, fully present, now.
Thank You.

2010-01-23T08:55:00.002-05:00

photo from http://www.gaialandscapedesignbackgrounds.net

Our bodies are our gardens - our wills are our gardeners.
~William Shakespeare

2010-01-22T07:23:00.002-05:00

photo from The Daily OM

Maya Angelou said this:
'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'

'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'

'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'

'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.'

'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'

'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.....'

'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision..'

'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one....'

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.'

'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn..'

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

2010-01-21T07:40:00.002-05:00

photo from an email

"All this is simply to say that all life is interrelated. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality; tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. As long as there is poverty in this world, no man can be totally rich even if he has a billion dollars. As long as diseases are rampant and millions of people cannot expect to live more than twenty or thirty years, no man can be totally healthy, even if he just got a clean bill of health from the finest clinic in America. Strangely enough, I can never be what I need to be until I am what I need to be.
This is the way the world is made."
~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today's Affirmation
I am connected to all of life.

Today's Meditation
Dear God, Spirit of the Universe, Mother, Father,
You are the fabric that binds all people together.
Yet, I often see myself as separated in so many ways:
different races, genders, sexual orientations, nationalities and religions.
Show me what I can do to help heal these illusions.
Help me to unite in love for the good of all.
Thank You.

2010-01-20T08:49:00.002-05:00

photograher unknown to me

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Heal yourself - your physical and spiritual bodies. Regenerate yourself with light, and then help those who have poverty of the soul. Return to the inner spirit, which we have abandoned while looking elsewhere for happiness."

--Willaru Huayta, QUECHUA NATION, PERU

It is difficult to look inside ourselves, especially when we see conflict or confusion. During times of conflict we need to realize that we are talking to ourselves about our thoughts. This conversation is printing in our subconscious and forming our beliefs. During times of conflict we need to ask the spirit to control our self-talk. Only thorough finding that inner place and going there during troubled times will we ever find happiness.

Great Spirit, You are my peace and you dwell within me. Let me look for You within myself.

2010-01-19T06:34:00.002-05:00

"Fortunate are the people whose roots are deep."
-Agnes Meyer

When trees have deep roots they don't fall over as easily. It works the same with people. Our roots help to support us, and to keep us strong when the wind blows hard. Our roots can nourish us. It's up to us to grow these roots for ourselves - with our friends, our family, our community and our memories.
-Lissa Coffey

2010-01-18T09:35:00.004-05:00

photo by Clark Little
"To some people, surrender may have negative connotations, implying defeat, giving up, failing to rise to the challenges of life, becoming lethargic, and so on. True surrender, however, is something entirely different. It does not mean to passively put up with whatever situation I find myself in and to do nothing about it. Nor does it mean to cease making plans or initiating positive action. Surrender is the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to, rather than opposing the flow of life.”
~Eckhart Tolle

2010-01-15T08:50:00.000-05:00

photo from an email showing the sunset and moonrise at the North Pole

“Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.”
~ Barbara De Angelis

2010-01-14T10:32:00.003-05:00

photo from http://www.moillusions.com

“There are two ways to spread the light:
to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
~ Edith Wharton

2010-01-13T10:35:00.002-05:00

Clark Little photographer

“I dropped a tear in the ocean, and whenever they find it I'll stop loving you, only then.”
~author unkown

2010-01-12T09:05:00.002-05:00

photographer unknown to me

The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.
- Helen Keller

2010-01-11T07:49:00.003-05:00

photographer unknown to me

The Daily OM
Finding Time for You
Your Most Vital Commitment
Within each of there is a well of energy that must be regularly replenished. When we act as if this well is bottomless, scheduling a long list of activities that fit like puzzle pieces into every minute of every day, it becomes depleted and we feel exhausted, disconnected, and weak. Refilling this well is a matter of finding time to focus on, nurture, and care for ourselves, or "you time." Most of us are, at different times throughout the day, a spouse, a friend, a relative, an employee, a parent, or a volunteer, which means that down time, however relaxing in nature, is not necessarily "you time." Though some people will inevitably look upon "you time" as being selfish, it is actually the polar opposite of selfishness. We can only excel where our outer world affairs are concerned when our own spiritual, physical, and intellectual needs are fulfilled.

Recognizing the importance of "you time" is far easier than finding a place for it in an active, multifaceted lifestyle, however. Even if you find a spot for it in your agenda, you may be dismayed to discover that your thoughts continuously stray into worldly territory. To make the most of "you time," give yourself enough time on either side of the block of time you plan to spend on yourself to ensure that you do not feel rushed. Consider how you would like to pass the time, forgetting for the moment your obligations and embracing the notion of renewal. You may discover that you are energized by creative pursuits, guided meditation, relaxing activities during which your mind can wander, or modes of expression such as writing.

Even if you have achieved a functioning work-life balance, you may still be neglecting the most important part of that equation: you. "You time" prepares you for the next round of daily life, whether you are poised to immerse yourself in a professional project or chores around the home. It also affords you a unique opportunity to learn about yourself, your needs, and your tolerances in a concrete way. As unimportant as "you time" can sometimes seem, it truly is crucial to your wellbeing because it ensures that you are never left without the energy to give of yourself.

Making time for me was a hard concept to actually incorporate in my life. I was so used to being a single mom, working and somehow keeping all my plates in the air, all of which left little "me time". Then my life changed, I remarried, my last daughter left home, I moved, I got Fibromyalgia. Getting Fibro has made me learn to take time for myself. I had to start taking care of my body inside and out. I was used to doing everything physically that I wanted to and suddenly in 2006 I no longer could. I have found a way back to being able to do most of the physical activities that are important in my life. OK, I admit just in a slower gentler way. I call this my new normal.
No complaints, life is good!

2010-01-10T09:49:00.003-05:00

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil

They may look sweet and innocent. But watch out, they are plotting some evil overthrow or what to break next!

2010-01-09T09:39:00.001-05:00

photographer unknown to me

Simplicity
"When the solution is simple, God is answering."
~Albert Einstein

Today's Affirmation
The Truth is sweet and simple.

Today's Meditation
Dear God, Mother, Father, Spirit of the Universe,
Thank You for simple solutions to my seemingly complex problems.
You call me to a gentler way:
Love and tenderness for one another; and myself,
Love for this planet and the environment,
Passion for peacefulness and cooperation;
And heartfelt celebration of all creation.
May I learn to look beyond the distractions I fabricate.
May I learn to be in love with life.

Thank you.

2010-01-08T10:12:00.002-05:00

Photo found on images.quickblogcast.com

“When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels”
~ author unknown

Well I am off to shovel and maybe make snow angels! Enjoy this gift of a day!

2010-01-07T10:10:00.004-05:00

Baby sharing her pretty pink princess bed with her brother

"When something does not insist on being noticed, when we aren't grabbed by the collar or struck on the skull by a presence or an event, we take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude."
-Cynthia Ozick

2010-01-06T09:07:00.003-05:00

photographer unknow to me

“Listen to my dreams. They are the whispers of my heart telling me all I’ll ever need to be happy.”
Belva Davis

2010-01-05T09:54:00.001-05:00

Snowmen fall from heaven... unassembled.
~Author Unknown

2010-01-04T09:23:00.001-05:00

photo by Kim Taylor

There are two kinds of intellect; the first is acquired –
Thanks to it, you learn like a schoolboy
Books, teachers, reflection, concepts, all kinds of sciences.
You learn and your intellect grows superior.
But conserving this knowledge is always a burden.
The other intellect is God's pure gift;
Its heart is in the breast of the soul.
When the water of divine gnosis jets from the heart
It never becomes stagnant or old or dirty.
And if it can't flow outside, what does that matter?
It keeps foaming up from within the heart.
~Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

2010-01-03T09:35:00.003-05:00

photo from a powerpoint slideshow I got via email

"The most beautiful thing I can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed."
~Albert Einstein

2010-01-02T09:35:00.003-05:00

photo by Kim Taylor

"The truth of a thing is the feel of it, not the think of it."
-Stanley Kubrick

45 life lessons and 5 to grow on AND Happy 2010

2010-01-01T10:41:00.004-05:00

our cozy bungalow built for two

Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow onBy Regina Brett, The Plain Dealer
September 20, 2007, 2:03PM
Originally published in The Plain Dealer on Sunday, May 28, 2006

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.

It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

These lessons were sent to me in a slideshow via email and so many of the lessons reonated with me, so I thought I'd share. So I googled these 45 lessons and found Regina has added 5 more! I send you all blessings and love for a most magnificent 2010!

2009-12-31T09:44:00.002-05:00

photo from i.ehow.com

Thursday, December 31, 2009 – New Year’s Eve
“New Year's Eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe,

No breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.”
~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Today's Affirmation
I welcome this New Year with a new attitude and new thought.
Today's Meditation
Dear God, Mother, Father, Spirit of the Universe,

Tonight I celebrate the start of a new year.
May this experience be as real for me spiritually as it is on the calendar.
This year, may I open myself fully, more than ever before

to the power of Love to transform my life and my world.
May my celebration of this newness be deep and powerful.
May the dawn bring for me a new way of seeing and being.
I open myself to the truth that in any moment everything can be new.
May I experience the power and love of peace.

2009-12-30T09:34:00.002-05:00

photo by Kim Taylor

Look to this day
For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision
But today, well lived,
Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day!
~ Sanskrit Proverb

2009-12-29T09:49:00.003-05:00

photo from ehow.com

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"What you see with your eyes shut is what counts."
~Lame Deer, LAKOTA

Another whole world opens up when we close our eyes and calm our mind. Be still and know; be still and hear; be still and see; be still and feel. Inside every person is a still, small voice. Sometimes it is necessary to close our eyes to shut down our perception in order to see. Try this occasionally when you are talking to your child or spouse, close your eyes and listen to them. Listen to the tone of their voice; listen to their excitement; listen to their pain-listen.

Great Spirit, today, let me hear only what really counts.

2009-12-28T10:06:00.003-05:00

This Barred Owl came to visit Germantown MetroParks, he usually lives at a bird sactuary due to having its wing shot

"It is our business to go as we are impelled."
-D.H. Lawrence

2009-12-27T09:13:00.003-05:00

this photo is from this summer after a fire ceremony, I was doing a model pose joking around

Let the world know I am as I am,
not as I think I need to be,
because sooner or later, if I am posing,
I will forget the pose, and then where am I?
~Fanny Brice

Now a bit of Fibromyalgia info. About 4 weeks ago my holistic MD, Dr. Jonas, had me try some samples of Deplin. He said it has worked for some people with Fibromyalgia. What it does is supplement the folate levels in the body and it can pass the blood brain barrier, which normal suupplements can't do. And Dr. Jonas said that low folate can cause body aches and depression. So I tried my samples and felt it did help some with my aches. I am continuing the trial with a prescription now. Deplin is labeled a medical food. I gave it a try because I trust Dr. Jonas and because how the drug works made sense to me. The website for Deplin talks about how it is a mood elevator, that can be a benefit as well. But it can help with the body aches of Fibro too. http://www.deplin.com/DeplinFacts,HowItWorks
Keep trying things, eventually something will work, DON'T GIVE UP HOPE! What I have found is that we are all so different and what works for you, may not work for me.
Sending love and peace to you all....

2009-12-26T09:04:00.001-05:00

photo from www.feedmewp.com

"Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings."
-Victor Hugo

2009-12-25T11:10:00.002-05:00

photo from upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. ~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby

Wishing you all love and peace in your life on the bright and merry Christmas day.

2009-12-24T10:07:00.003-05:00

photo from an email-unknown photographer

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Believing people can soar beyond ordinary life."
--Fools Crow, LAKOTA

We are created by God to be vision people. First we set the goal and then we see. If we create within ourselves a picture or vision and we hold that picture or vision in our mind, whatever we picture will show up in our reality. If we can see ourselves being educated, then schools and teachers will show up in our lives. If we picture in our mind a positive, spiritual person to be in our lives, we will attract this type of person in our relationships. How big can our dreams be?

Great Spirit, let my visions today be Your vision. Put within me a vision of the being you would have me be. Then help me to keep the vision in my mind.

This inspiration is especially for my soul sistah Hope.
Sending Christmas joy to all!

2009-12-23T09:36:00.002-05:00

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"It's not the package and the wrapping which counts but what is inside, underneath the clothes and the skin."
--Lame Deer, LAKOTA

Our eyes and ears gather information that is fed to the mind, and we tend to form judgements, opinions, and assumptions which determine our perception. We might see someone act a certain way, then label that person forever, not at all concentrating on what is inside the person. It matters not our height, our size, our facial features, or our gender. What matters is our thoughts. Good thoughts overcome all obstacles.

Great Spirit, let my inside contain Your qualities

2009-12-22T09:38:00.001-05:00

photographer unknown to me

Go Away

Yesterday he came to me
I shouted 'Go away'
Grace danced towards me
I shut my door.

- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

2009-12-21T07:45:00.004-05:00

photo from http://sites.google.com/site/sccphotoclubsite

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"He [The Great Spirit] only sketches out the path of life roughly for all the creatures on earth, shows them where to go, where to arrive, but leaves them to find their own way to get there. He wants them to act independently according to their nature, to the urges of each of them.
--Lame Deer, LAKOTA

Every person is created with purpose and with direction. This purpose and direction is written in our hearts when we are conceived. In addition, we are given access to a quiet guidance system which helps us find our purpose and our direction. We need to recognize this guidance system. It's called intuition, the quiet voice, urges, the knowing, or the feeling. Once we locate our purpose and direction, we are given skills, talents and abilities that are unique to only ourselves. We must practice daily prayer and meditation with God to find this information. To be solid and confident in ourselves, we always need to be able to answer three questions: why am I?, who am I?, and where am I going? If I can answer these three questions, I always know I'm OK!

Great Spirit, show me my path of life.

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Now the daylight will start to get longer each day. I want to send gratitude to my Windsong family for the love and energy we shared last night at the Winter Solstice fire ceremony. It was awesome! I love you all! I am grateful you are in my life.

2009-12-20T09:37:00.004-05:00

photo from http://www.old-picture.com/indians/pictures/Indian-Pottery.jpg

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"My pottery is the handiwork of God."
--Teresita Naranjo, SANTA CLARA PUEBLO

The Great One has given every human being at least one special talent and one special gift. We need to develop and practice these gifts because they are the handiwork of God. Maybe we are artists-when people look at our work it puts joy in their hearts; maybe we are singers- when people listen to our songs, their hearts are happy; maybe we are writers of song or poetry-when people hear or read our work, it may change their lives. We need to honor ourselves and our gifts. We need to thank the Creator for our talents and our gifts."

My Creator, let me use my gifts to further Your work on the Earth.

2009-12-19T08:14:00.001-05:00

photographer unknown to me

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Flexible strength is better than inflexible. Let the storm flow over you, and then pop back up."
--Michael Kabotie, HOPI

Flexibility is taught by nature. You will see the trees bend in the wind. You will see that tree branches are flexible. To be rigid is to break. When we have life problems it is good for us to be flexible. Sometimes we need to flow with what is going on. If we resist, it becomes more painful. We need to be on the path of least resistance. Water flows down the mountain through the path of least resistance. Electricity flows through the path of least resistance. Power flows through the path of least resistance.

Creator, I will be flexible today because I know You are with me.